Combined vacuum-breaker and proportional unloader.



G. WAINWRIGHT. COMBINED VAOUUM BREAKER AND PROYQRTIONAL UNLOADER.

APPLIGATIDN FILED AUG.1, 1911. 1,081,174. Pa ented Dec. 9, 1913. I 7 SHEETS-SHEE'1 1.

A A; ATTORNEY.

I Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. WAINWRIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.15, 1911 l I l COMBINED VACUUM BREAKER AND PEOPORTIONAL UNLOADER.

I 1N s cmkkmmw WITN $555;

6 61. /A 'f I My A TTORNE Y.

, 0'. WAINWRIGHT. COMBINED VACUUM BREAKER AND PROPORTIONAL UNLOADER.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 15,1911.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

7 SHEETS-"SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: INVEN- TOR; J ZW;

0; M A TTORNE Y.-

r O. WAINWRIGHT. COMBINED VACUUM BREAKER AND PROPORTIONAL UNLOADER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1911 1,081,174. Patented Dec. 9, 1913. i

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNES ES: V I l 11y 'NTOR.

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G. WAINWRIGHT. 001113111111) VACUUM BREAKER AND PROPORTIONA-L UNLOADER.

11211110111011 rum) 1111(1.1s,1911. 11 081 174. Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

'1 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNESES:

ziNTOK.

v 0. WAINWRIGHT. COMBINED VACUUM BREAKER AND PHOPORTIONAL UNLOADER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.15, 1911.

Patented'Dec. 9, 1913' 7 SHBBTS-SHEBT B.

LQgfA TOR. M MATTORNEY.

G. WAINWRIGHT. COMBINED VACUUM BREAKER AND PROPORTIONAL UNLOADER.

APPLIOATIOK FILED AUG. 15, 1911.

' Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 7. L119. 17 A.

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WITNESSES \k yd ATTOleNEYl CHARLES WAINWRIGHT, 0F ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED VACUUM-BREAKER AND PROPORTIONAL UNLOADER.

Lfiififi, 1114i. Specification of Letters Patent. ll ttlliaentiigtll Mpg, fill, 1] H913,

Application filed August 15, 1911. Serial No. 644,111.

breaker. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig; 2, sl'lOWiIlg the vacuum breaker rcplaced by the vacuum breaker illustrated in Fig. 1). Fig. 11 is a section on the line l/ of Fig. 10, looking to the left. Fig. 12 is an enlarged section on the line of Fig. 9. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section on the line ((P ll of Fig. 9. Fig. 14: is an elevation of the lower piston used in the modified form of vacuum breaker. Fig. 15 is a detail view of the upper piston employed in the vacuum breaker shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 1G is a side view of an appliance to be introduced between a con'ipressor and a receiver for proportionately unloading the compressor by stages according to the work required. Fig. 17 is a horizontal section on the line 17-17 of Fig. 16.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

The vacuum breakers are indicated at .t and C in Fig. 1 both for the high and the low pressure cylinders and the uuloadcrs atli and l). Each of the vacuum breakers comprises a cylinder 6 having an opening 7 and an annular port 8 extending about the cylinder (3 and into the port of same.

9 is a hollow piston with a suitable number of ports 10.

11 is a guide for spring 12. This guide also has openings 13 which allow the air or gasto pass within same, thus adding to the effective area fortransmitting the same through said piston.

14 is an end piece which holds spring 12 in position and forms a stop for piston 9 and also forms an out-let 15.

16 is an auxiliary stem by which the piston 9 can be forced by hand to the stop 14 and 22 is a pin, which, as the knob 24 is turned to right or left, permits the pin 22 to engage with the recess in part 21, thus locking 'it in position. This permits a free course for air or gas through this device from 7 to 15. By releasing pin 22 the spring 12 forces piston 9 to its other extreme travel. Now should air pressure enter point 20, passing through To all whom 2'25 may concern:

lie it known that l, CHARLES Wins wmcirr, a citizen of the United States. rcsiding at Erie, in the county of ltrie and State of llennsyh'ania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Vacuuiii-Breakers and Proportional Unloaders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to air and gas conipressors and has for its primary object to reduce or practically eliminate the vacuum generated in the intercooler of compound compressoi s for gas or air; to devise a system of proportional unloading by stages of the machine, to vary automatically as the work required by the said machine, and to make starting of the machine, especially electric driven machines, much easier.

The invention is intended to prolong the life of machines of the character mentioned, particularly the discharge valves, to render them more quiet when the compressor is unloaded by destroying the vacuum in the intercooler, and also to provide for proportionally unloading by stages in connection with mechanically operated inlet valves, or other style of inlet valves.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of an air compressor showing high and low pressure cylinders in connection with an inter-cooler, together with means for breaking vacuum and the proportional unloading of machines by stages. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view from intake flange 1 to the side flange 2 of low pressure cylinder on the line 005m of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 a part vertical sectional view through low pressure cylinder and intercooler, the other part being an end elevation of low pressure cylinder and cooler box with unloading device 3, fittings canal 19 it would first force stem 16 home to 4 and 5, and piston and inlet valve of air ,its seat 17 thus preventing leaking by said cylinder omitted. Fig. 6 is a vertical section stem 16 and further it would force piston 9 through a choking controller. Fig. 7 is a again to its stop piece 14, and ports of said sectional view of vacuum breaker. Fig. 8 is plan view of end piece of vacuum breaker. Fig. 9 is a modified form of vacuum plston 9 and ports of cylinders 6 now being in alinement, air or gas would pass from point 7 to 15. Now Fig. 8 merely shows 1 shown in .Fig. 7).

'32. Compressed'air from chamber ports 25 through stop piece 14 and groove 26 to receive spring 2.

A choking controller is interposed tween the source of compressed air supply and the intake of the low pressure cylinder be of any known type, the form preferred and consists of two parts receiving cooperating 35. The compressed air from or other convenient point enand may detail in Fig. 6 is valves 30 and receiver tank ters point 27 at a ping communication between points As shown most clearly in Fig. 5 the intake divided into three compartments, the compartment 38 air or gas from com- 42 to in- 39 and 40 lead valve bore 42, one being in each end ofcylinder, the

compartment of the cylinder is takes the compressed partment 41 conducted by passway tercooler. Compartments to the cylinder bore 41 through valve in valve bore 42 is not shown.

. Fig. 4 tions 4 and 5. used to coupl from the common intake 1 of 39 and 40 of the low pressure cylinder.

Figs. 1 and 2 show Fig. 7 cylinders and also unloaders 6 connected to low pressure tures 4 and 5 shown in Fig. shows that two designated by breakers designated by G are connecte one choking controller -D Fig. 3 shows further 6 of each unloader is point 45 which leads to a receiver or charge piping 46 of H.

in Fig. 2.

In startmg a compressor, electrically or the knob 24 is pushed down and locked into position-(see upon all four vacuum breakers designated by 6 in Fig. 1. I The eflect of this is that belt or turbine driven, etc,

This is donethe of both low and high come inoperative, and pression of air in both high sure cylinders,

predetermined point and governed by spring adjustment 28 air enters 29 and forces valve 30 to its seat thus stop- 31 and 29 also the canal 9 to its seat, (1 15. tank falls point the piston 34 forces needle valve 35 air in hole 36 37 and' the piston to its upward stop due shows in detail the special connece unloader 3 part 4 to the openings 2 which lead to the compartments connected to the 3 shown in Fig. cylinder by fix-. 4. Fig. 1 also vacuum breakers designated by A are connected to one choking controller B and that two other vacuum d to by suitable piping. that point 27 of Fig. piped to a common dis- P. cylinder shown discharge valves pressure cylinders bethis prevents the comand low presand thus permits the compressor to easily get up to required speed, then the stem 16 is released (see Fig. 7) on all vacuum breakers previously mentioned, the machine is'then ready for the compression of air or gas as the case may be. Now as the predetermined air or gas pressure of compressor is reached, one of the choking controllers, namely B, goes into operation, thus stopping that side of low pressure cylinder, now at the same time or just a little before the two sionot' air in the ends E and F of high and low pressure cylinder respectively, and furthermore eliminates the possibility of vacuum being formed in the iniercooler chamber 43. Now .hould the terminal pressure of the machine still increase no to any reason, then the unloader D goes into action and similarly like the other side, the vacuum circuit breakers C go into action with results as already mentioned. Thus it is seen that unloader B and the two vacuum breakers A work together and likewise unloader D and the .two vacuum breakers C. The result of this combination is this, that ound compressors is practically eliminated tional unloading by stages of compressors to meet automatically'the demand as used.

Novelty is claimed for the system of unloading in connection with a form of intake choking controller in combination with vacuum circuit breakers which destroy or practically eliminate the vacuum generated in compound machines which occurs when merely aform of choking controller is used on the intake to low pressure cylinder. By this system the nnloading takes place by stages instead of being all. off or all on and further also that this system of unloading is automatically proportional to the volume of air required from machine provided, of course that said volume is within the limits of machine. It is observed that the vacuum breakers being equipped with stops which when set. that said vacuum breakers serve as relief valves and thereby make the discharge valves of both high and low pressure cylinders inoperative, with the result that a compressor driven by any or'm of motor can thus be easily started and when compressor is up to'speed that by relieving stops, said machine is ready for compression. It will thus be, noted that this system adds to length of lifeof compressor by relief given to discharge valve when machine is unloaded.

It is realized that-where the proportional unloading by stages is not desired and where a single choking controller is u vacuum breakers A (see. Fig. 1) having also gone into operation, prevents the compresthe scheme makes possible a combinationand furthermore it permits of a propor flow of air through same to lieved in chamber pistons 51 and 52 back to their other ex on intake to low pressure cylinder ot'compound machines that the vacuum generated in intercoolcr between the two cylinders would still be undesirable. hence a simpler scheme has been devised for doing this as shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, H and 15. Fig. 10 shows a choking controller 3, Fig. 6, connected by a fitting t as shown in Fig. :lto the intake of the low pressure cylinder. F 9 shows a side elevation of assembled vacuum breaker as shown in detail in Figs. l2, l3, l4 and 15. Fig. 12 is a sectional View of Fig. 9 and Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view of Fig. 5). Figs. 14 and 15 show pistons 51, which for convenience are made in two pieces. As air pressure is admitted to the chamber 54 the pistons 51 and 52 are moved upward against tension of springs 55 until piston 52 strikes stop 56 and thus brings chambers 57, 58 and 59 in communi- -ation with each other. As pressure is re- 54 the springs 55 bring treme position, thereby cutting ofl" the communication between chambers 57, 58 and 59.- The vacuum breaker, Fig. 9, is connected to air cylinder, as shown in Fig. 11. The points 60 and 61 (see Figs. 13 and 11) are connectedto either end of cylinder and the point 62 to the intercooler chamber 43. The point 53 (Figs. 11 and 12) is connected in common by piping 65 with unloader 3, as shown in Fig. 10, which is connected to air pressure for compressor. About the same time that unloader 3 goes into operation the vacuum breaker shown in Fig. 9 goes into operation, thereby' forming, communication between each end of air cylinder also with intercooler 43. The result is that the vacuum that is generated when choking controller is used is done away with.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the elimination of the vacuum in com pound machines does away with the noise of the discharge valves of both high and low pressure cylinders and furthermore, that by keeping valves quiet and from dancing upon their seat that same makes their life longer. -These points are quite essential in high speed compressors.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the prineipleof operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the embodiment there of, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

In the arrangement shown in igs. l6 and 17 two headers or fittings H are provided, each having an opening and between these twofittings or headers are located a plurality of choking controllers E which may be of any type, but is preferably of the form shown more particularly in Fig. (3. The combined openings P of the unloaders I) are made equal to the area of the inlet and discharge openings A.

compressor the device has one of its openings A connected to the inlet of the com prcssor in any suitable way, the other opening A leading to the atmosphere. The auxiliary valves G" are connected by suitable piping 40, which may be provided with a globe valve ail from which extends a. pipe 33 which connects with the receiver. The globe valve 41 is used simply as a matter of convenience. In operation the valve (:l may be set to work between IOO'and )6 pounds pressure and G between 96 and )2 and G between 92 and 88. When the air pressure within the receiver or the compressor reaches 92 pounds (i cuts out or closes If the air pressure increases to 96 pounds G cuts out or closes and if the pressure further rises to 100 G cuts out, thereby completely unloading the machine. When the pressure falls the reverse is true. It will thus be understood that the appliance admits ot' a compressor being loadcd or unloaded through a given number of stages, hence a compressor may be arranged for example to unload at one-quarter, one-halt or tliree-(piarters of its entire volume or at any desired proportion of its volume as may be required.

Ilaving thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. In a fluid COIIIPI'GSSOI, the combination with the pump mechanism, and an inter cooler connected to the cylinder of the pump mechanism; of a fluid operated vacuum breaker connected to the cylinder and to the inter-cooler, a choking controller arranged to operate on the intake of the pump mechanism and adapted to be operated with a predetermined pressure in the receiver of the compressor and connected with the vacuum breaker whereby to control the operationof the same.

2. In a multiple-stage fluid compressor, the combination with the pump mechanism and an intercooler connected to the cylinders of the pump mechanism; of fluid operated vacuum breakers connected to the cylinders of the pump mechanism and to the intake, and a choking controller adapted to beeperated with a predetermined pressure in the receiver of the' compressor and arranged for operating on the intake of the pump mechanism and connected to the vacuum breakers for controlling the operation of the same.

3. In a double-acting fluid compressor, the combination with the pump mechanism, and

In the operation ofthe variable proportional unloader for the an intercooler connected to the cylinder of operated vacuum breakers connected to the the. pump mechanism; of fluid operated high and low pressure cylinders and to the vacuumbreakers connected to the cylinderv intercooler, a plurality of choking controli of the pump mechanism and to the interlers arranged to operate on the intake of the cooler, a plurality of choking controllers low pressure cylinder and adapted to be each adapted to be operated with a different operated with difierent predetermined presredetermined pressure in the receiver of sures in. the receiver of the compressor, an the compressor and positioned so as to conconnections between said choking controllers trol the intake of the pump mechanism, and and said vacuum breakers for the purpose a connection between said controllers and described.

said vacuum breakers for the purpose de- In testimony whereof I affix my signature scribed. in presence of two witnesses.

. i: In a double-acting multiple stage fluid CHARLES VVAINWRIGHT;

compressor, the combination with the pump mechanism, and an intercooler connected to Witnesses:

the high and low pressure cylinders of the FRED J. CARNEY, pump mechanism; of a plurality of fluid JAMES N. ALLBURN. 

